Friday, July 31, 2015

I'm in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the seventh edition of the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit that is taking place as you read this at on the UT-Dallas campus.

We are at lunch right now, and we have heard our TTNS Day 1 keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Sutton give an interesting and well received speech to the people in attendance as I think about my seminar tomorrow.

But today is Friday, so it`s time to get to our normal weekly business and call out the fool, fools or groups of fools for our illustrious award

Not going to tease you this week with a long list of fools that were in contention for this week's award, I'm going to get down to SUF 'bidness' and let you know who won it.

The 7th annual Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit gets cranked up on the UT-Dallas campus this morning.as it continues its ongoing mission of working to enact transgender friendly non discrimination policies and procedures in Texas school districts, colleges and universities.

And hey DFW, let's see if y'all can break the all time TTNS attendance record that was set last year when Texas State University in San Marcos, TC hosted it.

The fun gets started with an opening breakfast, the TTNS opening ceremonies, and a keynote speech by Dr. Stephen Sutton before we dive into the Day 1 sessions.

In case you're wondering, yes, I will be teaching a seminar, but it happens tomorrow. Today I'm in reporter mode.

This is the second consecutive year the TTNS has ventured from its home base territory in the Houston area, and the first time it has been in the Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex.

Would love to see you at the UT Dallas Student Union building, and the campus is located in Richardson, TX at 800 W. Campbell Rd.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Well, actually I'm in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, TX. I'm chillin' at the hotel and getting ready for the 7th edition of the Texas Transgender Non Discrimination Summit that will be held on the UT-Dallas campus starting tomorrow.

This year's sponsors in addition to UT-Dallas are Rainbow Guard UTD, UTD Pride, and the Gallerstein Women's Center.

This is the second straight year the TTNS has hit the road and began to do what founder Josephine Tiittsworth and the board envisioned for it when it started back in 2009. It not only is helping to push for trans inclusive non discrimination policies on Texas college and university campuses and school districts, it is also being held in different parts of the state as it does so.

It';s been fun to witness the growth of the TTNS since I became aware of it in 2010, and I'm not only eager to teach my own seminar on Saturday, I'm looking forward to seeing if the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex can break the all time TTNS attendance record set just last year when Texas State hosted it.

And did I get my Slurpee on the way to the hotel? What do you think?TransGriot Update: I not only got my Slurpee at the DART St. Paul Station 7-Eleven, I qualified for a free one during that visit to the DFW`area. There were two walking distance 7-Elevens in walking distance on either side of my hotel in Richardson, and my app got a workout.

When the Arizona Cardinals gather at University of Phoenix Stadium for their first training camp practice on August 1, there will be a woman standing on the sidelines watching practice, and she won't be holding a mike, be a player or coach's wife or a cheerleader.

Welter played 14 years professionally as a linebacker and running back, and one year against the boys in the the Champions Indoor Football League for the Dallas based Texas Revolution as a running back and special teams player before moving to coaching.

Welter has some impressive credentials besides actually playing football. She is a Boston College grad with a master's degree in sports psychology and a doctorate in psychology.

So yeah, are the NFL boys ready for her? If she can make them better players, they don't care. And if the Cardinals like what they see, this training camp hire could turn into a full season gig for her.

Coaching is nothing more than teaching,” cardinals Head Coach Bruce Arians said Monday. “One thing I
have learned from players is, ‘How are you going to make me better? If
you can make me better, I don’t care if you’re the Green Hornet, man,
I’ll listen.’ I really believe she’ll have a great opportunity with this
internship through training camp to open some doors for

At any rate, she's not only making history, but potentially opening doors for herself and other women who wish to have coaching careers in the NFL.

The last trip I took was to Dallas for the 2015 Black Trans Advocacy Conference ( BTW, the 2016 BTAC will happen April 25- May 3, so start making your plans now to be there) and it was via Megabus.

Since I returned from Dallas, haven't been traveling as much because I had to sort out housing issues that caused me to decide not to go to this year's Philly Trans Health Conference and Netroots Nation in Phoenix.

The Texas Transgender nondiscrimination Summit is a trip I've had on my schedule for a while, and haven't missed since I moved back home from Louisville in 2010. As a matter of fact, the first local event I attended mere weeks after returning home was the TTNS that was hosted by Rice University.

So once again I'm getting on the Megabus in a few hours and heading up I-45 to Dallas, but this time for the 7th annual edition of Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit.

This year it's not only on the road for the second straight year, it's going to take place starting tomorrow for the first time ever in the Dallas-Ft Worth area. The TTNS will on the UT-Dallas campus in Richardson, TX. in their Student Union building and I'm looking forward to it.

The UT-Dallas campus address is 800 W. Campbell Rd. in Richardson, TX

What I'm not looking forward to is getting up at the crack of dawn to head downtown for this early morning Megabus departure. However, getting up that early means I'll be up and out of town before that Houston heat gets cranked up, and it's predicted to be 101 degrees F today.

I'll also have time on that 4 hour ride up I-45 to figure out who gets tomorrow's Shut Up Fool Award.

The other benefit is I'll get there before noon. When I arrive in Dallas and get to the St Paul DART station a 7 Eleven will be there in which I will eagerly get reacquainted with my fave frozen beverage.

And naw, it's not a margarita, although I'm not gonna lie, it's a close second.

but back to talking about the first ever TTNS in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Looking forward to seeing all my friends in the DFW area, and for those of you in the Dallas-Ft Worth area or nearby, we'd love to have you join us.for the 7th annual TTNS starting Friday morning.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Because I had pressing business to take care of, I was reluctantly forced to miss yesterday's Houston City Council public session in which HERO was the major topic of discussion.

And after hearing about how some of the public comment hearing transpired, wish I was in the room to counter some of the faux faith based conservamadness I was told about by people who attended it.

I was told by people who attended the meeting that District D Councilmember Dwight Boykins, the only African-American councilmember who voted against HERO last year, parted his lips to make the outrageously logic defying statement that :during all this Black Lives Matter situation , the LGBT community wasn't there.'.

Oh really? I have a news flash for you. Black Lives Matter was founded by Black lesbian women Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi. LGBT people have been involved in Black Lives Matter from the beginning.

And yeah, the LGBT community also includes LGBT people of color, and I'm not happy about this attempt to once again erase TBLG people of color from our respective ethnic groups and paint the LGBT community as monoracial..

What the hell do you think my unapologetically Black trans behind and Dee`Dee`Watters are? even when some of our people don't love us, we're standing up for the entire community to make Houston better. And neither do I nor she appreciates our names being called by you in vain when your butt is getting chewed on for those idiotic remarks, your negative HERO vote last year and your problematic pattern of palling around with Black anti-LGBT sellout ministers

And may i remind you once again Councilmember Boykins, District D also has LGBT people, our allies, and our family members living in it who aren't happy about your anti-HERO vote.

The statement that 'LGBT people aren't part of a movement we founded is as offensive as it is a bald faced lie. Your comment is also being interpreted in Houston LGBT communities of color as saying 'we don't exist'.

But let me pivot and focus on the erasure part of this. There are 2.3 million people in the Houston area. It's estimated about 10-15% of the population are part of the BTLG community, and of those folks you'll find moi and other TBLG Houstonians of color..

#WeExist, and are part of the Houston communities of color we intersect and interact with. We are tired of being erased by you and other straight cisgender people of color. Many of us in LGBT World have taken part in various movements that impact our community including #BlackLivesMatter .

And you do recall yours truly was at HISD headquarters in 2013 and 2014 blasting them for attempting to shut down my HS alma mater Jesse H Jones?

But one of the reasons the Houston LGBT community is rising up to defend HERO is because our backs are against the human rights wall. We still as LGBT Houstonians and American citizens don't have basic civil rights in Texas and federally, and now the Texas Republican Supreme Court has fracked with our local human rights ordinance that covers 15 categories, not just our community

We're also angry when we see the city of Dallas, 262 miles up I-45 and San Antonio in 2013 to the west of us on I-10 pass laws similar to our HERO with a lot less drama that we're dealing with in Houston.. Dallas in November 2014 strengthened theirs. These are cities that we compete with for convention business and sporting events like NCAA Final Fours and Super Bowls.

Are you aware that the trans woman who was discriminated against in 2012 by Saks, Leyth Jamal, was a Black trans girl like me? That LGBT people of color are in various positions in our workforce? And by you voting against HERO last year and hatin' on it now, you send a message that you don't respect our humanity, community or human rights?.

Many of us weren't in attendance at yesterday's hearing because we had to work during the 2 PM start time of this meeting, but thanks to the folks like Fran Watson, Melissa Vivanco, Ashton Woods, James Lee and the Organization Latina de Trans en Texas who were in the house and did speak in favor of keeping HERO.

Other TBLG people of color aren't showing up for movements in the community at large because they aren't out at work and don't want to be seen or outed on television. They fear that they will be fired from their jobs if their status as members of the TBLG community is revealed, and no thanks to the partisan Texas Supreme Court we no longer have a local remedy to combat that discrimination.

And it's comments like yours that make LGBT people feel as if they aren't wanted or needed in movements built around the common issues we face as people of color.

The LGBT that don't show up also legitimately fear being victimized by anti-LGBT violence in their neighborhoods that your hate minister buddies have been stirring up for over a year with their anti-gay sermons.

And after 11 trans women, 9 of them trans women of color have been murdered in the US this year including one Texas (so far) in that sad number, it's a legitimate concern.

Yes, Councilman Boykins, hate thoughts + hate speech = hate violence. And it's even more odious when that debunked hate speech is coming from a pulpit with selective interpretations of scripture to try to justify it. It's also disgusting to witness when it is an attempt to bamboozle the flock into voting against a human rights ordinance that protects their human rights at the behest of white conservative activists like Dave Welch, Steve Hotze, Steve Riggle and Rick Scarborough who don't even live in the Houston city limits. .

When we went through those contentious HERO hearings last year, did you forget that many of the TBLG discrimination stories at those HERO hearings were being told by LGBT people of color?

So yeah, your comment just guaranteed that my 'invisible' behind will be making an appearance at City Hall next Tuesday, and I'll be accompanied by more LGBT Houstonians of color who according to your statement, aren't there.

I consider my human rights something important enough to show up and fight for, and so will others who will be at City Hall debunking the lies of our opponents next Tuesday..

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Should be a hot time in the Houston City Council chambers later this afternoon, and I'm not talking about the weather that will bring us our first 100 degree day of the summer.

The Houston City Council has a 2 PM session on Tuesdays for public comment on whatever issue you wish to bring to their attention. And with the suspension of the HERO happening no thanks to the Texas (Republican) Supreme Court, this first public comment session since the unjust ruling will probably be a lot more contentious than usual.

People in LGBT Houston are highly pissed off about what happened to a human rights ordinance we fought tooth and nail last year to get passed, have been mobilizing for action in defense of it, and will be there to let their voices be heard.

And I don't doubt the out of town faux faith based opposition and their kneegrow useful fools will also be in attendance urging City Council to kill HERO.

And unfortunately due to some other pressing matters, i won't be at City Council for the fun, but will be there in spirit and catching the replay of the session on cable TV later.

To all the peeps signed up to speak in defense of our human rights law, give the haters hell for me and I'll see y'all at the next Tuesday session.

Today is the milestone 50th birthday of San Francisco based trans advocate and pioneer Cecilia Chung!

Before I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with this smart and beautiful lady from Hong Kong with a wicked sense of humor and getting to know her, I'd been a long time admirer of her and her trailblazing advocacy work on behalf of our community.

In addition to being a senior strategist at the Transgender Law Center, serving on the President's Council on HIV and AIDS, and being the first openly trans person and person living with HIV on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission of which she served as its chair. She was one of the founders of San Francisco's Trans March and works tirelessly n the local, national and international levels to improve access to
medical treatment for transgender people and people living with HIV, and to
erase stigma and discrimination through education, policy, advocacy, and
visibility

Happy milestone birthday Cecilia! looking forward to the next time that we get to spend some quality time together and hope your birthday is as fabulous as you are!.

Monday, July 27, 2015

All Jehrardd Williams and Jorge Hernandez wanted to do back in January was just peacefully grab something to eat at a Fort Myers, FL Waffle House and go on their merry way when they were finished.

But three drunk white supremacists had other plans. They walked into the Waffle House in question, decided to show their azzes and mess with Jehrardd and his friend. Dakota Fields, uttered racial slurs at the men as they sat at the Waffle House counter attempting to finish their meal.

Then Robert Black approaches Williams and wants to shake their hands. Really? You are that delusional, drunk or both that you think I'd want to shake you hand after you just publicly insulted me?

He manages to shake Hernandez's hand, but when Williams justifiably declines to do so, Black punched Williams in the face, and subsequently finds out that he is messing with the wrong Black man, one who is packing a pistol.

Then as Black is probably peeing in his pants at his worst nightmare, Dakota Field comes charging back into the restaurant to attack Williams unaware that he has a gun and gets three caps busted in him.

He and his homeboy them rush the mortally wounded Field our of the restaurant and to a waiting vehicle that while trying to find a hospital gets into an accident..

Field was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, and no charges were filed (surprise surprise) no charges were filed against Williams for Standing His Ground.

Here's the surveillance video of the incident. TRIGGER WARNING for violence.

So what did we learn today white supremacist fools?

*You white males are the violent people that society should be on guard against.

*Black people own guns, and know how to properly use them in self defense.

As you probably guessed, we in H-town, and especially the Houston TBLG community are majorly pissed over the unjust all Republican Texas Supreme Court's partisan decision to suspend the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

A meeting was held yesterday afternoon at Resurrection MCC to discuss what's happening, and the next action steps that will happen to defend the HERO should we have to deal with a repeal referendum which was made more likely by the TX Supreme Court's decision.

One thing that will immediately happen tomorrow is HERO supporters will head to Houston City Hall in force to express our disgust at what happened and urge the city to defend our local remedy human rights law that protects 15 categories.

I'm still in Texan Come and Take It mode, and hope you are, too. I and Team HERO spent several 10 plus hour days enduring right wing hatred and insults in three council meeting plus a hearing to get it passed last year, and I will fight with every fiber of my being to defend HERO.

If you wish to join the fun, you need to sign up to speak now for the meeting that will take place at starting at 2 PM CDT. Organizers are asking that yo get there no later than 1:30 PM so you can clear security before entering the council chambers.

I would also hope that a protest is being planned for the Harris County Republican Party headquarters on Richmond Ave.

I find it interesting and telling that the major Houston Equal Rights Ordinance haters like Rick Scarborough, Dave Welch, Steve Hotze and Steve Riggle all live OUTSIDE the Houston city limits.

So yeah suburban haters. it's on like Donkey Kong! and you suburban bigots and professional gaybaiters need to stay out of Houston human rights business and stop hatin' on my HERO!!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

One of the things I'm sick of hearing is the repeatedly debunked lie that Black people are 'more homophobic' when the reality is that since the 70's, the anti-LGBT movement has been overwhelmingly white in terms of the people who support it, lead the professional gaybaiting organizations, and the fundamentalist churches who push that anti-gay message,

You see idiots like James David Manning get air time, but won't call progressive Black ministers like Bishop Yvette Flunder and countless others around the country.that believe in radical inclusiveness.

So with that being said, i was delighted to see this video of the Rev. E. Dewey Smith of the House of Hope, Greater Travelers Rest Church in Decatur, GA. He is an example of the ministers who aren't liking the ones who hypocritically attack LGBT people.

He gave a fiery sermon last Sunday that was posted to YouTube on Thursday in which he slammed church leaders for judging gay people but
“you change wives like we change underwear.”

Saturday, July 25, 2015

I'm still in this kinda pissed off mood right now about the unjust ruling by the Texas Supreme Kangaroo Court fracking with my human rights and the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance I and so many Houstonians worked hard to get passed last May.

You haters have won a battle thanks to your partisan all-GOP Texas Supreme Court, but we will win the war if HERO goes to the ballot if we fight as hard to defend it as we did to get it passed in the first place

We trans folks, and especially LGBT people of color have no choice but to be all in for this upcoming human rights battle because our live are already under attack just for being non-white in America.

And it's some of our own people we will be fighting who are being hoodwinked and bamboozled by the GOP and white fundies. Some who are fighting on the side of the children and grandchildren of the faux Christian segregationists are either too clueless, too transphobic and homophobic or have sold out and don't care about anybody else but themselves, but don't realize they are fighting against their own human rights..

So your choice is this Houston TBLG community and allies. Do you meekly submit to right wing oppression, or are you going to resist it with every fiber of your being?

Friday, July 24, 2015

It wasn't too long ago I was jumping up and down excited because Janet Mock was making an appearance on the Melissa Harris -Perry Show on MSNBC. Now she gets to be the guest host of #Nerdland for this weekend!

Congrats Janet and so bursting at the seams proud of you! I will definitely be tuned in to watch as you handle your broadcasting business. I also hope that this weekend's guest stint leads to something bigger and better for you.

If you wish to check her out or set your DVR's for watching it later, the shows will air this Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 AM CDT.

No thanks to the Texas Supreme Court, I and 2.3 million Houstonians (for now) no longer have local human rights coverage in my hometown.

Despite evidence of massive fraud by the HERO opposition and clear failures of the opponents to follow the Houston City Charter rules for ballot initiatives and collect enough signatures to place it on the ballot, the GOP dominated Texas Supreme Court once again landed on the side of injustice and gave the oppressors what they wanted.

Per their unjust ruling, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance that was passed last May is not only suspended, the Texas Supreme Court ordered that it either be repealed in 30 days (August 24) or placed on the November 2015 ballot.

In a statement, Mayor Annise Parker expressed her disappointment in the TX Supremes jacked up ruling.

"Obviously, I am disappointed and
believe the court is in error with this eleventh hour ruling in a case
that had already been decided by a judge and jury of citizens.
Nonetheless, we will proceed with the steps necessary for City Council
to consider the issue. At the same time, we are consulting with our
outside counsel on any possible available legal actions. ""Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance is
similar to measures passed by every other major city in the country and
by most local corporations. No matter the color of your skin, your age,
gender, physical limitations, or sexual orientation, every Houstonian
deserves the right to be treated equally. To do otherwise, hurts
Houston’s well-known image as a city that is tolerant, accepting,
inclusive and embracing of its diversity. Our citizens fully support
and understand this and I have never been afraid to take it to the
voters. We will win!"

Needless to say I am pissed off about this unjust ruling. People's human rights should NEVER be put to a vote, and if you think they should be, you're sadly mistaken.

The HERO isn't going to be repealed by council. But what this ruling just did was ensure that the 2015 Houston mayoral election will be the most hyperpartisan and contentious one in Houston history if the federal court appeal goes the same way.. The money will be flowing to ensure that the conservafools can protect their vanillacentric privileged right to discriminate against anyone they don't like.

And since the faux faith based haters lost big on marriage, nothing would please them more than to get a huge high-profile win in the fourth largest city in the country and the largest in Texas by rolling back a human rights law that also includes BTLG protections in a city run by a lesbian mayor..

Shyt just got real Houston LGBT community. If you were planning on sitting on your azzes in this election cycle and not voting, you may wish to rethink that plan because the Texas Supreme Court just made it possible for the tyranny of the majority to vote on your human rights. They also potentially set off what promises to be a nasty and divisive high stakes fight that will put the economic future of Houston at risk if the federal appeal reversing the unjust Texas Supreme Court ruling fails.

What are the stakes you ask? In addition to the future of the HERO, don't forget that we have at least $10 billion dollars of economic impact on the line with the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four and the 2017 Super Bowl scheduled to be played here at NRG Stadium.

If we lose this fight, we will probably lose both of those signature events, future corporate relocations and future convention business as well as our local remedy for fighting discrimination since the GOP dominated Texas legislature is in no hurry to pass a statewide human rights law.

If you believe that HERO being on the November ballot is unfair, then you take out your frustrations on the six Houston City councilmembers who voted against the HERO last year. You also take your righteous anger out on any mayoral candidate like Ben Hall who supports its repeal and enacting a new one without human rights protections for TBLG Houstonians. You also vote for the people who support you.

And since the Texas Supreme Court justices are elected, you take out your frustrations on them at the ballot box too

If you can do so, please take a moment out of your schedule over the next four months leading up to November 3 to volunteer to defend HERO. If you can make a contribution to defend HERO in a possible referendum battle, please do so once the links are set up.

And most importantly, talk to your friends, neighbors and people in your influence circles about HERO now. Debunk the lies the opponents are about to tell and point out it covers 15 categories including pregnancy, veterans status, sex and national origin just to name a few in addition to gender identity and sexual orientation.

ANY candidate seeking my vote for any office in this 2015 cycle who doesn't support the current inclusive HERO will NOT get my vote in 2015 or future election cycles. I'm already planning to be at my fave early voting site on the first day we are able to early vote in this election.

I also expect my Democratic candidates and my federal, state and local officials to unequivocally state where they stand on HERO..

Houston NAACP and Houston Urban League, I expect you to also side with the human rights of all Houstonians instead of a bunch of sellout preachers cooning it up for longtime professional gaybaiters like Dave Welch and Dave Wilson.

I already know where much of the Texas GOP is on HERO, and it ain't for human rights as Gov Abbott just demonstrated. If you're a Republican who believes in human rights, surprise me.

And finally Houston SGL, trans and bi Houstonians, this is a call to action. If you value your human rights, I suggest you get off your derrieres and join me in once again sending the message that it's obvious the Harris County and Texas Republicans parties, The Baptist ministers Assn. of Houston and Vicinity and the Houston Area pastoral Council didn't get on May 28, 2014.

It's getting close to that time of year Moni loves in terms of the start of the NFL football season. Training camps are starting to or have been opening for all 32 teams across the country.

For my fave NFL squad, it starts on Sunday as they welcome players to the Methodist Hospital Complex across Kirby Drive from NRG Stadium.

Head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff will begin the work to pare down that large group of players, returning vets, rookies and undrafted free agents to that final 45 man roster that will open the season September 13 at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

And yeah, if you're wondering if me, Eli and defending 2014 prognostication champ Mike Watts will bump heads again this season, I'm already prepping for it so I can take my title back.

There is an air of optimism amongst the fans of all NFL teams about their prospects of either making the playoffs, returning to the playoffs or making a deep postseason run that ends with their team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

But enough NFL jibber-jabber. It's Friday, and y'all wish to find out what fool, fools or group of fools are champions if idiocy.

Time for this week's edition of the TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards.

Honorable mention number one is Zoey Tur, for saying in a friend's FB post 'there is no transgender community. Really? I'd expect something that illogical to come out of the mouth of a newly transitioned hothead who has alienated people left and right who wished to help her get acclimated to Trans World and its dynamics..

Honorable mention number two is Donald Trump. Just pick any ignorant statement he's made this week and it was good enough to get him an SUF honorable mention..

Honorable mention number three is Taylor Swift, for making it all about her and demonstrating once again that #SolidarityIsForWhiteWomen when Nicki Minaj blasted the VMA's and the music industry in general for their double standard of constantly nominating videos with images of 'very slim bodies' while ignoring the ones that don't like her Anaconda one.

Honorable mention number four is the state of Texas, for violating the 14th Amendment and racistly refusing to issue birth certificates to US citizen children born to undocumented Mexican immigrants. They are being sued on it, and the case is winding its way through the federal court system.

I'm willing to bet that Texas would have a problem if those same American children were born to undocumented Canadian or European.immigrants.

And by dint of that kid being born on US soil, unless his parents are diplomats, they are American citizens. .

Honorable mention umber five is Buffalo Common Council candidate Joseph Mascia, who got caught unleashing his inner Archie Bunker and refuses to end his campaign after being busted for repetitively saying the n-word and other derogatory comments about Black people.

I repeat, anti-Black hatred is systemic and a real problem.

Honorable mention number six is Marco Rubio, for opening his mouth on FOX noise and saying President Obama 'has no class'.

Dude, you don't know how to spell the words class in either Spanish or English. The POTUS has more class in his pinky finger than your entire clown bus full of GOP presidential candidate.

Honorable mention number seven is the GOP dominated Texas Supreme Court, who ignored massive fraud by their GOP friends and in a (surprise, surprise) partisan ruling not only blocked the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, but ordered the Houston City Council to either repeal HERO in 30 days or place it on the ballot.

That means for the Houston LGBT community, our human rights not only got put on hold, but place on the ballot so a tyranny of the majority can vote on them

This week's Shut Up Fool loser winner is Ben Hall.

The former Houston city attorney got his azz whipped by 30 points in losing to Mayor Annise Parker's final reelection campaign in 2013, and has doubled down on the homophobia and transphobia in his 2015 mayoral run.

He sent out a huffy press release earlier in the week denying he was a hater when the news surfaced that he'd signed Dave Wilson's anti-trans petition and received a donation from longtime gaybaiter Steven Hotze, then reversed himself the next day and claimed he was 'proud to sign it'.

Dude, you just proved what I said in this post about you, and you've been an opponent of the Houston LGBT community since October 2013.

He doubled down on the anti-LGBT bigotry in yesterday's press conference, and is running with the tag line he wants to be the 'Mayor For All Houstonians'. Unless of course, you happen to be a trans, bi or SGL Houstonian, then he doesn't care about you.

You effort to rip human rights protection from Houston LGBT citizens makes you unfit to be mayor of this city. You not only won't gt my vote, but neither will you get the votes of people who are our allies and appreciate the fact this is a diverse town that welcomes to contributions of ALL its citizens.

Ben Hall, have several sections of seats at NRG Stadium and Shut up Fool!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

The National Black Justice Coalition upon today's introduction in Congress of the Equality Act, has endorsed this sweeping and unprecedented piece of federal legislation.

If enacted, the Equality Act would expand basic human rights protections for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender) and gender nonconforming Americans based on their actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.

The Equality Act adds key LGBT rights protections to existing civil rights laws including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to ensure like other protected classes (race, religion, national origin) LGBT people cannot be legally discriminated against in the United States.

The Equality Act also provides federal protections on the basis of sex and sex-based stereotypes in both public accommodations and federally funded programs..

"Without a federal non-discrimination measure like the Equality Act in law, the current framework of LGBT civil protections--or lack thereof-- within states and local jurisdictions provides a majority of LGBT Americans with no clear legal defense from discrimination," said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director & CEO in a statement.. "When a person is both Black and LGBT, discrimination--and the evils of blatant and systemic racism--is too common place and faced on a number of levels that are fundamentally unacceptable in a democracy. As such, NBJC supports the Equality Act, which would provide vital legal protections to so many in the Black LGBT community who are particularly vulnerable to discrimination in our nation."

According to a UCLA Williams Institute study, 3.7% of all adult African-Americans identify as LGBT people, representing more than 1 millions Black LGBT Americans. Significant populations of Black LGBT people like in southern states that in many cases have no local or statewide non-discrimination protections that cover LGBT people. The Equality Act's passage would ensure that the most vulnerable LGBT citizens--which includes Black LGBT ones, would have recourse when they are treated unfairly because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

'The heightened attention we have seen in recent years, months, and days about the mistreatment of black people in regards to policing, racial profiling and senseless violence demonstrates that the fight for true equality continues. Even with key civil rights laws on the books meant to prohibit discriminatory treatment, we continue to live in a nation grappling with the plight of racial justice," added Lettman-Hicks.

"The movement for equal justice under the law calls for us to continue to place pressure on those in power to make and enforce laws that protect us all--no matter our background. That is why NBJC will continue to fight to see an end to all forms of racism in our nation and world, while simultaneously working to see the day when measures like the Equality Act are signed into law."

The landmark ruling overturned adverse lower level court cases and makes it clear that the official gender record can be amended without surgery or sterilization.

The plaintiff in the case was a now 45 year old trans woman who in 1999 was granted permission to undergo genital surgery but decided over time that surgical intervention wasn't necessary.to get social recognition as a woman.

Burt a tribunal in Piacenza and the Appeal court in Bologna both said no prior to her win at the Italian Supreme Court level.

The Court stated: The desire to align body and spirit is, even in the absence of
surgical intervention, the result of a very personal journey to gender
identity, supported by a range of medical and psychological treatments
that will vary according to individual personality and need.

‘The moment of truth is deeply influenced by individual characteristics.

‘Ultimately, it can only be the end result of a process of self-determination towards the goal of a change of sex.’

The Court also stated in their landmark ruling: ‘The complexity of the route, which encompasses a
plurality of medical treatments (including hormonal and aesthetic) as
well as psychological further illustrates how that right is central to
the expression of individual and social personality and social, insofar
as a proper balance is to be struck between the public interest… and the
limits of our legal system.

The Italian Supreme Court ruling comes one week after Ireland passed legislation to allow trans people there to self identify without surgical intervention. It is also increasing pressure on France and Great Britain to follow suit.

At any rate, it's a wonderful day for our Italian trans cousins. As for when it will happen in the United States, I'm not holding my breath with science denying Republicans in control of Congress right now.

TransGriot Note: Initial photo is of Italian girl like us actress Vittoria Schisano. She wasn't the plaintiff in this case, but is the most well known Italian trans woman right now.

Received the wonderful news that Meagan Taylor, who was visiting Iowa with a trans friend and ended up in jail after being racially profiled because of a transphobic Drury Inn employee, is now free!

“I’m ecstatic to be released,” Meagan told the Transgender Law Center.
“Words cannot express the way I feel to be out. I want to thank everyone
who shared my story, and let people know that I am going to seek
justice for what they did profiling me as a Black transgender woman.”

She spent over a week in isolated custody in the Polk County jail in Des Moines as local activists Kaija Carter, Tony Tyler and Mira Bellwheter , national organizations and San Francisco based Rev. Megan Rohrer teamed up to free Meagan. Pastor Rohrer, who is also transgender, raised over $4400 thanks to 133 donors to help pay her bond as the Transgender Law Center worked to get the Illinois warrant vacated.

I thank Kaija for keeping me informed as to what was happening on the ground in Des Moines.

“We are relieved and thrilled that Meagan is finally free, but know that
her story is all too common,” said Flor Bermudez, Esq., Director of the
Detention Project at Transgender Law Center, which helped advocate for
Meagan’s release. “Black transgender women are regularly viewed as
criminals in public spaces, triggering unlawful arrests. In the vast
majority of cases, transgender women are jailed in facilities that do
not know how to house them safely and humanely.”

Ass for what happens now, that remains to be seen. The Drury Inn has yet to issue an apology to Taylor, and may be facing action on a possible violation of the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

But the important part of this story is that Meagan is free, and hope the next time she gets to take a trip it is drama free.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

I guess some people in the Ben Hall camp have been reading my blog, because the Ben Hall campaign just put out a weak as wellwater spin filled statement denying that he's hating on the Houston LGBT community.

Let's look at the empirical evidence, shall we Mr. Hall?

You don't support the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance because of two of the 15 categories it covers in sexual orientation and gender identity, and have doubled down on that position at community forums such as the Harris County Democratic Party's Brown bag luncheon.

You went on KUHF-FM's Houston Matters on October 28, 2013 and expressed your opposition to our community with a homophobic caller.. You refused to come to the Houston Stonewall Democrats or the Houston LGBT caucus endorsement meetings.

You signed the Dave Wilson inspired anti-trans petition designed to enshrine anti-trans bigotry into the Houston City Charter and gut the HERO.

And FYI, if your anti-HERO side were so keen on getting the HERO on the ballot and 'letting the people vote', why do we keep busting y'all forging signatures on petitions and trying to skirt Texas election law by any means necessary in doing so?

Besides, we already had a vote on the HERO, and it was in the 2013 mayoral election. It was a campaign issue asked of all candidates, including you running in that cycle, and by the people we put in the mayor's chair and on council as a result of that election, the people of Houston signaled their desire to have a local human rights law to cover them.

As for your declaration in that statement from your campaign that you are a Christian, well dude, so am I along with many people in the Houston LGBT community. But the God I serve and the values I have that are informed by my Kingian style faith compel me to fight for the human rights of all people.

That seems to be a lesson that you and your right wing Bible scripture twisting hypocritical friends somehow forgot in your quests for power..

Don't get mad at me, bloggers and activists inside and outside the bi, trans and SGL community, or anybody else for doing our jobs and calling your butt out. It would be civil rights malpractice if we didn't warn the people in our community and our allies about your problematic HERO stances and questionable comments about TBLG people.

If you keep lying down with the homophobic conservadogs, you keep getting bitten by their fleas, and we in LGBT Houston will justifiably call your behind out about it.

You seem to keep forgetting that SGL, trans and bi Houstonians also reside inside the 628 sq. miles of Texas turf we call home And as you found out in 2013 when Mayor Parker thumped you by 30 points and will discover again in four months on November 3, we vote..

We also see the only people being 'divisive' in this cycle are you and your pastoral friends.

Representing ALL Houstonians, Mr. Hall, means representing the interests of TBLG Houstonians. While there may be some issues we agree on like mass transit and possibly others, the non-negotiable condition that our political support for your campaign will hinge on is whether you do or do not support the current LGBT inclusive HERO, and if elected, will you defend it?

Seems like the answer to both those questions is NO. You have spectacularly failed to demonstrate ever since your 2013 campaign to our community that you are the person for that important human rights job while making some problematic statements along the way

By their fruits ye shall know them, and the fruits we have seen fall from your tree so far in this and the previous 2013 campaign have been homophobic and transphobic ones.

TransGriot Update: Ben Hall is doubling down on the anti-LGBT hate in his play for the Houston bigot vote. Had a press conference at 1:30 PM today (July 23) to once again call for enshrining anti-trans hate in the Houston city charter.

Really, fool? When we are dealing with the Sandra Bland case just up the road in Waller County, you choice in your #BenHallForSome campaign is to gaybait and use the same debunked likes to demonize trans Houstonians for your political purposes?

Jazz Jennings is the face for Clean and Clear. Carmen Carrera has signed with Elite Models and has made clear her desire to become the first trans Victoria's Secret Angel. . Lea T has signed a deal to become the global face of Redken beauty products, and trans models like Ines Rau, Arisce Wanzer, Geena Rocero, Isis King and Andreja Pejic are popping up on runways from New York to Milan in catalogs and elsewhere..

Apple Model Management LA is set to open under the guidance of Cecilio Asuncion and already has six transgender models on their initial roster and are looking for more.

“We see trans individuals as beautiful,”
says Apple's LA agency director Cecilio Asuncion. “Our strong commitment to
developing them as successful models is never about quantifying or
qualifying their gender. It's never a question of if they are women or
men, it's about their passion and commitment to being the best possible
models they can be.”So if you are a trans woman 5'8" or taller or a
trans man who is 6’ or taller and are interested in being represented by them, you can
apply by following the application guidelines at the Apple Model Management website.

When this happened back on June 18, I was in the middle of having to move, my laptop computer was packed up and offline, and I had no choice but to put the story on the back burner until my housing situation stabilized and I could talk about this piece of trans history.

Meet 25 year old Breanna Sinclairé. She is a classically trained operatic vocalist who graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. On the occasion of Athletics Pride Night, she received the opportunity to sing the national anthem before a crowd of 30,000 people attending the A's game at the O.co with the San Diego Padres.

She may be the first out trans person ever to sing the national anthem (that we are aware of) at a major sporting event. And she nailed it.

“It means a lot. I feel very honored,” Sinclairé told the Associated Press
of the experience. “I used to be homeless in New York City. I think
from being homeless to getting my bachelor’s degree and my master’s
degree to this, it’s just kind of mesmerizing to me to have such a group
of people that support me and love me and want to see me succeed. I’m
so thankful for them.”

Told y'all if we trans peeps are just given the opportunity to achieve our dreams, we will excel.

The MAJOR documentary is a step closer to finally being finished, and you can check out the website or the film's Facebook page for updated news and other tantalizing tidbits from the upcoming documentary..

Here is a 1996 letter courtesy of StormMiguel Florez from Miss Major that she wrote for the first issue of the Knock Knock Times, a voice for & by the Tenderloin Transgender Community entitled Affirmation!

While some of the drama, storms, trials and travails we go through as 21st century trans people is nothing compared to what our trans elders endured and is nothing new, if we aren't careful, we will let that avalanche of negativity creep into our lives and rob us of our happiness and joy. We must guard against that.

As Miss Major reminds us in that letter, we are unique, wonderful and part of the diverse mosaic of human life.

And now, here's some circa 1996 words of wisdom from one of our distinguished trans elders.

****

Dear Glamour Girls!

With all the negative attitudes and anti-us people in this world, we
need to remember that WE ARE UNIQUE & WONDERFUL! We are the creative
souls of humankind. Therefore, we must stand our ground and have all
who come in contact with us realize we are worth loving. We are worth it
all!

Love is wonderful, but it must be kept safe so that we will
survive the wrath of the ignorant. With that in mind, you must
constantly think positive, self-affirming thoughts. Re-affirm your
precious existence all through your day with affirmations.

You
can create them to fit your own special energy. You can feel pretty,
like Maria in West Side Story without a man to tell you so ... because
you ARE and you know it! Loving yourSelf helps you love someone else. So
sing out loud: I FEEL PRETTY!

Stay focused on yourself, stay safe, and keep a positive attitude. We are worth it ALL!

Here are a few affirmations you might use:

*I am a radiant being, filled with light and love.
*I am master/mistress of my life.
*The more I love mySelf, the more love I have to give to others.
Well, my dear other-selves, I close with marvelous thoughts for you.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

It is my sad duty to inform you once again that another Black trans woman has been murdered, this time in Tampa, FL.

25 year old India Clarke's body was found after the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department received a phone call at 9 AM EDT this morning from an employee at the University Area Community Center located at 14013 N. 22nd Street. The employee reported that a deceased body was lying next to the basketball courts.

Clarke was last seen alive by her parents at their home on Sunday and as usual, the local media violated the AP standards for respectfully covering trans people by misgendered her. Eric Glasser of WTSP-TV took his disrespectful reporting a step further by not only misgendering India, but putting her chosen name in quotation marks, and aggravatingly injecting an old arrest.into this story.

If you live in the Tampa area, please pass along any updates concerning this case, arrest of suspects or pending funeral arrangements so I can post them on the blog.

India is now the tenth trans woman murdered in 2015, and what is pissing me off is that once again, the murdered trans person in question not only shares my ethnic background, but is under 30..

Once again I ask the question of my African-American cis brothers and sisters? When will #BlackTransLivesMatter? When will your trans brothers and sisters see ministers and politicians decry the loss of these lives as loudly as you do for cisgender Black people?

Detectives are asking for anyone with any information to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.

My condolences to your family and friends who loved you. Rest in power and peace, India.TransGriot Update: A candlelight vigil in Clarke's memory is planned for Friday, 8 PM EDT at Lykes Gaslight Square in Tampa.

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About The TransGriot

Monica Roberts, AKA the TransGriot (Gree-oh) is a native Houstonian, GLAAD award nominated blogger, writer, and award winning trans human rights advocate. She's the founding editor of TransGriot, and her writing has appeared at the Bilerico Project, Ebony.com, The Huffington Post and the Advocate.
She works to foster understanding and acceptance of trans people inside and outside communities of color and was recently honored with the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award

TransGriot Blog Mission Statement

The TransGriot blog's mission is to become the griot of our community. I will introduce you to and talk about your African descended trans brothers and trans sisters across the Diaspora, reclaim and document our chocolate flavored trans history, speak truth to power, comment on the things that impact our trans community from an Afrocentric perspective and enlighten you about the general things that go on around me and in the communities that I am a member of.

--Mission Statement compiled January 2, 2011

The TransGriot Loves Comments

Feel free to leave comments on the posts. But bear in mind that you are guests in my cyberhome. As soon as I get to them, your comments are posted at my pleasure.

They will post as soon as I approve them, so no need to repeat sending them.

I strive to make it a safe zone for people to respectfully express themselves, but I have zero tolerance for hate speech, transphobic or blatantly disrespectful comments or ad spam.

I reserve the right to edit your comments for clarity or not post them at all.

2014, 2017 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Blog Finalist

2011 BWA Best LGBT Blog Finalist

2010 BWA Judges' Vote Winner Best LGBT Blog

2015-2017 NLGJA Member

TransGriot Speaking/Education Efforts Info

The TransGriot is available for speaking engagements, college lectures, panel discussions, media interviews, conferences or Trans 101 education efforts for your school, business or professional organizations.

For local Houston area, Texas or national events, you can e-mail me at transgriot@yahoo.com

For events outside the Houston metro area, I ask that my travel and lodging expenses be covered.

This is separate from my speaking fee.

If you are interested in having me appear as a speaker or panelist, you can e-mail me with the date and details of your proposed event.

Please book as early as possible because my speaking and event calendar slots during the year rapidly fill up.

CMBA Disclaimer

This personal blog allows me to express my constitutionally guaranteed First Amendment free speech rights and kick knowledge to y'all at the same time on various issues.

Nothing in it shall be construed, spun, remixed, altered or interpreted to mean it represents the views of my employers or the boards of the organizations that I sit on.

Photos and videos posted to this blog are used for illustrative purposes only and unless noted in the post or linked article, photos/videos don't indicate or are not intended to imply the person depicted in said photo/video is transgender